Atomizer and electronic cigarette with same

ABSTRACT

An atomizer can include an atomizing pipe, a liquid storage chamber and a liquid retainer. The atomizing pipe can include an injection port in a sidewall thereof. The liquid storage chamber is defined in the atomizing pipe. The liquid retainer is movably coupled to the atomizing pipe. The liquid retainer is movable relative to the atomizing pipe to adjust states of the injection port relative to an external environment, the liquid retainer is transitionable between: (i) a first configuration in which the liquid retainer covers the injection port, the injection port is not in communication with the external environment, and (ii) a second configuration in which the liquid retainer exposes the injection port to the external environment, the injection port is in communication with the external environment. An electronic cigarette with the atomizer is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from China Patent Application No. 201510054168.5, filed on Feb. 2, 2015 in the China Intellectual Property Office, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of international patent application PCT/CN2015/075361 filed Mar. 30, 2015.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to electronic cigarette technology, and particularly to an atomizer and an electronic cigarette with the atomizer.

BACKGROUND

The electronic cigarette, also known as virtual cigarette, electronic atomizer, and electronic cigar, has the same appearance and similar taste as that of an ordinary cigarette. The electronic cigarette is used to simulate the feeling of smoking, so as to facilitate a smoker to quit smoking or use it as an alternative to the ordinary cigarette.

An atomizer is a part of the electronic cigarette. There are mainly two ways of liquid injection for the atomizer currently on the market: crestal liquid injection and basal liquid injection. By the crestal liquid injection, it is usually required to open the top cover of the atomizer or remove the atomizer from the electronic cigarette so as to expose the injection port for injecting liquid. Due to the communication between the liquid storage chamber and the atomizing chamber and the specified hydraulic pressure difference therebetween, the pressure generated during the crestal liquid injection tends to cause the cigarette liquid pass through the cigarette liquid chamber and the liquid inlet and flow into the atomizing chamber, resulting in the atomizer leakage. On the other hand, the operation of the basal liquid injection is troublesome, which requires to invert the electronic cigarette and open the base for liquid injection. Since the base is connected to the atomizer by screw thread, cigarette liquid are likely to spill from the thread connection part. Both the two ways may lead to complicated operation of the liquid injection of the atomizer, and the difficulty to clean the atomizer and/or the electronic cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view an atomizer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the atomizer in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of the atomizer in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an atomizer of an alternative embodiment in an injecting state.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the atomizer in FIG. 4 in a closed state.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an atomizer of another alternative embodiment in an injecting state.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the atomizer in FIG. 6 in a closed state.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an atomizer of an additional alternative embodiment in a closed state.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a circled part IX in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the atomizer in FIG. 6 in an injecting state.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an electronic cigarette according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like.

When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present.

Terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as “/”.

The present disclosure is described in relation to an atomizer. The atomizer can include an atomizing pipe, a liquid storage chamber and a liquid retainer. The atomizing pipe can include an injection port in a sidewall thereof. The liquid storage chamber is defined in the atomizing pipe. The liquid retainer is movably coupled to the atomizing pipe. The liquid retainer is movable relative to the atomizing pipe to adjust states of the injection port relative to an external environment, the liquid retainer is transitionable between: (i) a first configuration in which the liquid retainer covers the injection port, the injection port is not in communication with the external environment, and (ii) a second configuration in which the liquid retainer exposes the injection port to the external environment, the injection port is in communication with the external environment.

The present disclosure is described further in relation to an electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette can include a cigarette holder and an atomizer coupled to the cigarette holder. The atomizer can include an atomizing pipe, a liquid storage chamber and a liquid retainer. The atomizing pipe can include an injection port in a sidewall thereof. The liquid storage chamber is defined in the atomizing pipe. The liquid retainer is movably coupled to the atomizing pipe. The liquid retainer is movable relative to the atomizing pipe to adjust states of the injection port relative to an external environment, the liquid retainer is transitionable between: (i) a first configuration in which the liquid retainer covers the injection port, the injection port is not in communication with the external environment, and (ii) a second configuration in which the liquid retainer exposes the injection port to the external environment, the injection port is in communication with the external environment.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate an atomizer 100 of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The atomizer 100 can include a top cover 120, a liquid retainer 130, a liquid storage chamber 160, an atomizing pipe 170, an atomizing unit 180 and a base 190. The atomizing pipe 170 has two opposite ends thereof coupled to the top cover 120 and the base 190, respectively. The liquid storage chamber 160 is defined in the atomizing pipe 170. The atomizing unit 180 is located in the atomizing pipe 170. The liquid retainer 130 can be movably coupled to the atomizing pipe 170. The atomizing unit 180 is positioned at one end of the base 190.

FIG. 3 illustrates that the atomizing pipe 170 includes an injection port 171 in a sidewall thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the sidewall of the atomizing pipe 170 is in a shape of cylinder. The injection port 171 communicates an interior of the atomizing pipe 170 and an external environment outside the injection port 171. The injection port 171 is in communication with the liquid storage chamber 160. The injection port 171 is configured to inject cigarette liquid into the atomizing pipe 170 by a user.

The liquid retainer 130 is movable relative to the atomizing pipe 170 to adjust states of the injection port 171 relative to the external environment. The liquid retainer 130 is changeable between: (i) a first configuration in which the liquid retainer 130 covers the injection port 171, the injection port 171 is not in communication with the external environment, the atomizer 100 is in a closed state, and (ii) a second configuration in which the liquid retainer 130 exposes the injection port 171 to the external environment, the injection port 171 is in communication with the external environment, the atomizer 100 is in an injecting state.

In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid retainer 130 can move on the atomizing pipe 170 along an axial direction of the atomizing pipe 170 by limitation of the top cover 120 and/or the base 190. In at least one alternative embodiment, movements of the liquid retainer 130 on the atomizing pipe 170 can be limited by other ways, as long as it is convenient for injection and avoiding liquid leakage.

The liquid retainer 130 includes an injection window 131 capable of being in communication with the injection port 171. When the liquid retainer 130 is in the first configuration, the injection window 131 is not in communication with the injection port 171. When the liquid retainer 130 is in the second configuration, the injection window 131 is in communication with the injection port 171, the injection port 171 is exposed to the external environment via the injection window 131.

A size of the injection window 131 may be larger, smaller or equal to a size of the injection port 171. In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid retainer 130 may be a liquid retaining ring rotatably sleeved on the atomizing pipe 170. The injection port 171 and the injection window 131 may be superposed with each other, and the injection port 171 may be in communication with the external environment, by rotating the liquid retainer 130 (which may drive the injection window 131 thereof to rotate) relative to the atomizing pipe 170, to realize side injection of the cigarette liquid into the atomizing pipe 170 from the sidewall of atomizing pipe 170. In at least one embodiment, when rotating the liquid retainer 130 relative to the atomizing pipe 170, if the injection port 171 is covered by the liquid retainer 130, the atomizer 100 is in the closed state, and if the injection window 131 and the injection port 171 are superposed, the atomizer 100 is in an injecting state to be injected cigarette liquid therein.

The atomizing pipe 170 can define a sealing groove 172 in an external face of the sidewall thereof. The sealing groove 172 is configured to receive a sealing element 150 therein. In at least one embodiment, the atomizing pipe 170 can define two sealing grooves 172 in the external face of the sidewall thereof. The two sealing grooves 172 are located at two opposite sides of the injection port 171. Two sealing elements 150 are received in the two sealing grooves 172 respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, each sealing groove 172 and each sealing element 150 are annular in the sidewall of the atomizing pipe 170. The injection port 171 is located between the two sealing elements 150. Each sealing element 150 is located between the atomizing pipe 170 and the liquid retainer 130. The sealing element 150 is configured to seal the atomizer 100 to prevent the cigarette liquid in the liquid storage chamber 160 from spilling from the liquid storage chamber 160 when the atomizer 100 is in the closed state. Material of the sealing element 150 may be silicone, rubber or others.

The atomizer 100 can further include a stopper 132 configured to detachably hold the liquid retainer 130 to the atomizing pipe 170, to prevent the user from turning the liquid retainer 130 to the injecting state which may cause the cigarette liquid in the liquid storage chamber 160 spill out. In the illustrated embodiment, the stopper 132 is coupled to an inner wall of the liquid retainer 130. The external face of the sidewall of the atomizing pipe 170 further defines a limiting groove 177 configured to match the stopper 132. The stopper 132 may be an elastic element. In at least one embodiment, when the user turn the liquid retainer 130 to drive the stopper 132 to slide into the limiting groove 177, the liquid retainer 130 may be clamped to the atomizing pipe 170 to prevent the user from turning the liquid retainer 130 to the injecting state. In at least one alternative embodiment, when the stopper 132 is held in the limiting groove 177, the atomizer 100 is in the injecting state, and when the stopper 132 is removed from the limiting groove 177, the atomizer 100 is in the closed state.

In at least one alternative embodiment, the stopper 132 may be coupled to the atomizing pipe 170, and the limiting groove 177 may be defined in the liquid retainer 130. However, the implementation is not limited to these embodiments.

Further, the atomizing pipe 170 can include a first pipe 173 and a second pipe 175 coupled to the first pipe 173. The second pipe 175 can have a diameter larger than that of the first pipe 173.

In at least one embodiment, the injection port 171, the sealing grooves 172 and the limiting groove 177 are defined in the first pipe 173. Material of the first pipe 173 may be metal. Material of the second pipe 175 may be translucent material, such as plastics or glass.

It can be understood that the first pipe 173 and the second pipe 175 may be made of the same material, and may be also made of different materials and not limited to these embodiments.

In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid retainer 130 is sleeved on the first pipe 173. The liquid retainer 130 has one portion thereof coupled to the first pipe 173, and another portion thereof coupled to the second pipe 175.

It can be understood that the atomizing pipe 170 can be integrally molded, or formed of two components detachably or non-detachably coupled together.

The atomizer 100 further includes a gas outlet pipe 200 received in the atomizing pipe 170 and communicating with the liquid storage chamber 160. The gas outlet pipe 200 has one end thereof coupled to the top cover 120, and the other end thereof coupled to the base 190. The gas outlet pipe 200 defines a atomizing chamber 210 therein. The atomizing unit 180 is located in the atomizing chamber 210. When the cigarette liquid in the liquid storage chamber 160 flows into the atomizing chamber 210 through a liquid access port in the gas outlet pipe 200, the cigarette liquid may be absorbed by delivery cotton of the atomizing unit 180, and be atomized by a heating element of the atomizing unit 180.

During the liquid injection of the atomizer 100 according to the present disclosure, none of the following operations are required: for example, opening the top cover 120, disassembling the atomizer 100 from the electronic cigarette, or opening the base 190. The liquid injection of the atomizer 100 according to the present disclosure is simple and convenient. Further, there is no pressure generated upon the cigarette liquid in the liquid storage chamber 160 to cause the cigarette liquid flow towards the atomizing chamber 210, and there is no cigarette liquid spilling from the injection port 171. Thus, the present disclosure has effectively solved the problems in the prior art: the crestal liquid injection may easily generate a pressure upon the cigarette liquid in the liquid storage chamber 160 by the cigarette liquid flow towards the atomizing chamber 210, which causes leakage of the atomizer 100, whilst the basal liquid injection is troublesome in operation, easy to cause cigarette liquid spilling out and hard to clean the remained cigarette liquid in the atomizer.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate that, in at least one alternative embodiment, the liquid retainer 130 is a liquid retaining block coupled on the atomizing pipe 170. One end of the liquid retainer 130 can be rotatably coupled to the atomizing pipe 170 by a pivot 400, and the other end of the liquid retainer 130 can be detachably locked on the atomizing pipe 170. When the other end of the liquid retainer 130 is detached from the atomizing pipe 170, the injection port 171 may be in communication with the external environment by rotating the liquid retainer 130 relative to the atomizing pipe 170, such that the liquid injection is possible.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate that, in at least one alternative embodiment, the liquid retainer 130 may be a liquid retaining ring vertically movably sleeved on the atomizing pipe 170. One end of the liquid retainer 130 is coupled to an elastic element 500 which is coupled to the atomizing pipe 170 or the top cover 120. When the liquid retainer 130 moves toward the elastic element 500 along an axis direction of the atomizing pipe 170, the cigarette liquid is injectable once the injection port 171 of the atomizing pipe 170 and the injection window 131 on the liquid retainer 130 are superposed. By a reverse operation, the liquid retainer 130 can return to its initial position, and the atomizer 100 is in closed state.

In at least one alternative embodiment, a top, bottom, left or right side of the injection port 171 of the atomizing pipe 170 is provided with a guiding groove. The liquid retainer 130 is slidably received in the guiding groove to realize vertical or horizontal movements. FIG. 8 through FIG. 10 illustrate that the top side of the injection port 171 of the atomizing pipe 170 is provided with a guiding groove 174. The liquid retainer 130 is a liquid retaining block. The liquid retainer 130 is slidably received in the guiding groove 174 to realize the vertical movements. If the user moves the liquid retainer 130 to communicate the atomizing pipe 170 with the external environment, the atomizer 100 is in a state to be injected; otherwise the atomizer 100 is in a closed state.

It should be understood that, the liquid retainer 130 is not limited to a liquid retaining ring in other embodiments, and the liquid retainer 130 can be the liquid retaining block of other shapes, such as in a shape of half ring, strip or sector.

FIG. 11 illustrates that the present disclosure also provides an electronic cigarette 300 including the above atomizer 100. The electronic cigarette 300 further includes a cigarette holder 310 coupled to the top cover 120, and a battery pack 320 electrically coupled to the atomizer 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the cigarette holder 310 has one end thereof inserted into the top cover 120.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An atomizer, comprising: an atomizing pipe comprising an injection port in a sidewall thereof; a liquid storage chamber defined in the atomizing pipe; and a liquid retainer movably coupled to the atomizing pipe; wherein the liquid retainer is movable relative to the atomizing pipe to adjust states of the injection port relative to an external environment, the liquid retainer is changeable between: (i) a first configuration in which the liquid retainer covers the injection port, such that the injection port is not in communication with the external environment, and (ii) a second configuration in which the liquid retainer exposes the injection port to the external environment, such that the injection port is in communication with the external environment.
 2. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the liquid retainer comprises an injection window capable of being in communication with the injection port; when the liquid retainer is in the first configuration, the injection window is not in communication with the injection port, and when the liquid retainer is in the second configuration, the injection window is in communication with the injection port.
 3. The atomizer of claim 2, wherein when the liquid retainer is in the second configuration, the injection port is exposed to the external environment via the injection window.
 4. The atomizer of claim 3, wherein the liquid retainer is a liquid retaining ring sleeved on the atomizing pipe.
 5. The atomizer of claim 4, wherein the liquid retainer has one end coupled to an elastic element which is coupled to the atomizing pipe, and when the liquid retainer moves relative to the elastic element along an axis direction of the atomizing pipe, the cigarette liquid is injectable once the injection port of the atomizing pipe is in communication with the external environment.
 6. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the liquid retainer is a liquid retaining block coupled on the atomizing pipe.
 7. The atomizer of claim 6, wherein the atomizing pipe defines a guiding groove at a side of the injection port, the liquid retainer being slidably received in the guiding groove.
 8. The atomizer of claim 6, wherein the liquid retainer has one end rotatably coupled to the atomizing pipe by a pivot, and the other end detachably locked on the atomizing pipe.
 9. The atomizer of claim 1, further comprising two sealing elements located between the liquid retainer and the atomizing pipe, wherein the injection port is located between the two sealing elements.
 10. The atomizer of claim 9, wherein the two sealing elements seal the atomizer to prevent cigarette liquid in the liquid storage chamber from spilling from the liquid storage chamber.
 11. The atomizer of claim 10, wherein the atomizing pipe defines two sealing grooves at two opposite sides of the injection port, the two sealing elements being received in the two sealing grooves respectively.
 12. The atomizer of claim 1, further comprising a stopper configured to detachably clamp the liquid retainer to the atomizing pipe.
 13. The atomizer of claim 12, wherein the stopper is coupled to an inner wall of the liquid retainer, an external face of the sidewall of the atomizing pipe defining a limiting groove configured to couple with the stopper.
 14. An electronic cigarette, comprising: a cigarette holder and an atomizer coupled to the cigarette holder; the atomizer comprising: an atomizing pipe comprising an injection port in a sidewall thereof; a liquid storage chamber defined in the atomizing pipe; and a liquid retainer movably coupled to the atomizing pipe; wherein the liquid retainer is movable relative to the atomizing pipe to adjust states of the injection port relative to an external environment, the liquid retainer is changeable between: (i) a first configuration in which the liquid retainer covers the injection port, such that the injection port is not in communication with the external environment, and (ii) a second configuration in which the liquid retainer exposes the injection port to the external environment, such that the injection port is in communication with the external environment.
 15. The electronic cigarette of claim 14, wherein the liquid retainer comprises an injection window capable of being in communication with the injection port; when the liquid retainer is in the first configuration, the injection window is not in communication with the injection port, and when the liquid retainer is in the second configuration, the injection window is in communication with the injection port.
 16. The electronic cigarette of claim 15, wherein the liquid retainer is a liquid retaining ring sleeved on the atomizing pipe.
 17. The electronic cigarette of claim 16, wherein the liquid retainer has one end coupled to an elastic element which is coupled to the atomizing pipe, and when the liquid retainer moves relative to the elastic element along an axis direction of the atomizing pipe, the cigarette liquid is injectable once the injection port of the atomizing pipe is in communication with the external environment.
 18. The electronic cigarette of claim 14, wherein the liquid retainer is a liquid retaining block coupled on the atomizing pipe.
 19. The electronic cigarette of claim 18, wherein the atomizing pipe defines a guiding groove at a side of the injection port, the liquid retainer being slidably received in the guiding groove.
 20. The electronic cigarette of claim 18, wherein the liquid retainer has one end rotatably coupled to the atomizing pipe by a pivot, and the other end detachably locked on the atomizing pipe. 